Amend the Asylum Process of the State
We, the undersigned of the Irish nation, hereby petition the Government to hold an ‘ordinary’ national referendum, in accordance with the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution, to amend the rules governing the asylum process of the State.
We propose that the following constitutional provisions be placed before the Irish people for approval in a referendum:
- Annual Asylum Applications:
The number of new asylum applications the State is obliged to process annually shall not exceed 2,500, including family reunification. A temporary lift on this cap shall only be permitted by public approval via referendum.
- Mandatory Processing Centres and Timeframes:
All asylum seekers shall be required to present themselves at processing centres, including ports and airports, and remain there until their claims are evaluated under recognised international protection protocols.
The State shall ensure that all asylum applications are processed within 90 days of submission. Rejected applicants shall have access to a single appeal, which must be concluded within 30 days.
- Expedited Deportation of Rejected Applicants:
Where an asylum application is rejected under due process, the applicant shall be subject to immediate deportation to prevent legal obstructions.
- Compliance with the Dublin Regulation:
The State shall not consider asylum applications from individuals who failed to apply in their first safe country of entry as defined under the Dublin III Regulation.
- EU Migration Pact:
The State shall seek the approval, via a standalone referendum, before repealing existing laws and enacting the EU migration pact.
This petition is grounded in Article 6 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, which declares:
“All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people… whose right it is, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy.”
